It happened in an instant. Dave Hartung was driving home from work the day after Christmas when a car darted from the shoulder of Interstate 97 and across two lanes to reach a ramp to U.S. 50.
The vehicle smashed his car. While describing the crash to state troopers, Hartung now realizes, he was in shock. He went home to Severn and only in a few hours did he realize he was in pain, he said.
At the hospital, doctors found that the accident had crushed four vertebrae in Hartung's spine and partially severed his spinal cord. Hartung has been in a motorized wheelchair since January. He has been able to eat food since April, but only if it has been pureed.
"It's a cruel irony for a chef," Hartung said.
It has been even more disheartening for someone who had his dream job as one of three chefs for the governor of Maryland. His wife, Beth Hartung, had to quit her job as manager of the Rockfish Raw Bar & Grill in Annapolis to care for him and their two young children.
To help pay for Hartung's mounting medical bills, family and friends from the Annapolis restaurant community are holding a chowder bash Sunday at Herrington Harbour Marina Resort in Rose Haven.
Gov. Martin O'Malley will not be able to make the chowder bash because he will be traveling to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, but first lady Katie O'Malley plans to attend, said Samantha Davis, her chief of staff.
Hartung, 49, was raised in a family of fine cooks. After high school, he decided to pursue a cooking career and graduated from the Baltimore International College in 1980. He spent about 20 years as a chef in several Annapolis-area restaurants. He had moved into restaurant consulting by early 2002 when he applied for the job at Government House.
Hartung was hired in May 2002 to cook for former Democratic Gov. Parris N. Glendening. Seven months later, Hartung had the honor of cooking for a childhood friend, newly elected Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich. Hartung stayed on when O'Malley won the governorship.
Hartung relished the job. He concocted a recipe for a quarter-pound chocolate chip cookie nicknamed "bombers" by the state troopers who scooped them up in between shifts protecting the governor.
He made time for charity cook-offs and events such as the Maryland Seafood Festival. One of his dishes, Scallops Tequila - saut?ed scallops in a Tequila and cream reduction - became a crowd favorite.
